Two sue over Gloucester Township arrests

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Sheffield’s lawsuit says the Sicklerville retiree was restrained in leg shackles and cuffed to a bench after being brought to the Chews Landing Road station around 11:30 p.m. for suspicion of driving while intoxicated.

Sheffield, who was pulled over by Officer Matthew Trotter, provided two breath samples to an unnamed officer at the station, the lawsuit says.

The samples, analyzed around 1 a.m., showed no alcoholic content, the suit contends. It asserts Sheffield should have been released at that time.

Instead, the suit alleges, Sheffield was asked to provide a urine sample and was kept in custody until after 2 a.m.

At that point, the suit says, Sheffield “was allowed to call his wife … for the first time during his time in custody.” She picked him up from the police station.

Sheffield claims he initially was cuffed by his right arm, but his left arm was cuffed later after he “attempted to wipe his eyes because of exhaustion.” He also says officers refused his request for a drink of water.

Sheffield, who is black, alleges the officers’ actions were “a purposely discriminatory form of degradation and intimidation because of his race.”

DWI charges against him were later dismissed by a municipal court judge, said Sheffield's attorney, Peter Kober of Cherry Hill.

The suit, filed May 26, says Sheffield “was not a flight risk, did not pose a threat of violent behavior … and was at all times compliant and cooperative.”

Among other claims, it accuses the township and Trotter of violating Sheffield’s civil rights through prolonged arrest and of conducting an illegal search in requesting the urine sample.

In the second suit, Dischler contends Officer Benjamin Lewitt “accosted” him after a traffic stop, causing rib injuries and bruises. The incident also led to anxiety attacks, the lawsuit claims.